Politics
Turkish diplomatic outreach deepens ties with Libya in 2025
Libya’s turbulent 2025 unfolded against a backdrop of armed clashes in Tripoli and sustained diplomatic engagement by close ally Türkiye.
Although a plane crash in Ankara last month that killed a Libyan military delegation, including the head of its army, marked a somber development, Turkish-Libyan ties took leaps last year.
Ankara emerged as a prominent diplomatic actor as it helped ease military tensions in Tripoli and stepped up its outreach to the eastern faction throughout 2025 as it shifted its Libya policy.
Most recently, the Turkish Parliament extended by another two years the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya, which wants Türkiye’s support against attacks to unseat it.
Libya remains split between two administrations: a government appointed by the House of Representatives in early 2022 and based in Benghazi, led by Osama Hammad, which controls the east and much of the south; and the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, in Tripoli, which runs the west.
In spring 2025, Tripoli was gripped by four months of military tension following the May 12 killing of the leader of the Gineiwe militia, triggering clashes in which government forces swiftly seized the group’s headquarters and took control of the Abu Salim district, a move Dbeibah praised as part of efforts to dismantle armed groups outside state authority.
Despite an initial cease-fire in May, tensions persisted as fighting spread to include the Rada armed group, which controlled Mitiga airport, Tripoli’s only operational air hub. The group set up checkpoints across parts of the capital, keeping the city on edge and disrupting daily life.
As international efforts led by the United Nations and European countries failed to contain the escalation, Türkiye intensified multi-track diplomacy through its National Intelligence Organization (MIT). Engagement with all parties gained momentum after MIT Director Ibrahim Kalın’s June 4 visit to Tripoli, paving the way for sustained talks that culminated in a cease-fire agreement on Sept. 13.
The Turkish-mediated deal ended the prolonged standoff and restored relative normalcy to the capital.
Outreach to Haftar
Alongside efforts in western Libya, Ankara moved to deepen engagement with eastern actors in an inclusive approach to Libya’s fragmented political landscape. Lt. Gen. Saddam Haftar, son of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, visited Türkiye three times in 2025, meeting Defense Minister Yaşar Güler in April for talks that marked “an important strategic step toward a unified Libya.”
Saddam Haftar later attended the IDEF 2025 Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul in July and returned again in November for meetings with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Güler.
In a reciprocal visit in August, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalın visited Benghazi for talks with Khalifa Haftar, marking the first high-level contact between Ankara and the eastern Libyan administration in years. The visit underscored Türkiye’s intent to maintain open communication with all key Libyan actors.
Days before, the Turkish Navy corvette TCG Kınalıada docked in Benghazi, where it conducted a PASSEX naval exercise with eastern Libyan forces. The Turkish delegation aboard the vessel was received by Saddam Haftar.
East Mediterranean tensions
Türkiye and Libya are also closely aligned in the Eastern Mediterranean, where joint maritime interests often clash with Ankara’s historic rival, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot administration.
Libya’s both eastern and western authorities reacted strongly to Greece’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean when Athens launched a tender in June for hydrocarbon exploration south and west of Crete. The Government of National Accord (GNA) summoned the Greek ambassador and called the move a violation of Libya’s sovereign rights.
A parallel response came from the east, where Benghazi-appointed Prime Minister Osama Hammad rejected challenges to Libya’s agreements with friendly countries, affirming the legitimacy of cooperation with Türkiye under international law.
In the fall of 2019, Türkiye and Libya signed a deal setting marine jurisdictions, rejecting unilateral and illegal activities by regional countries and international firms, and protecting the rights of both countries. The deal was registered by the U.N. in October 2020.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Friday condemned Israel’s strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur military air base and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s subsequent remarks on Türkiye, calling them a threat to Turkish sovereignty and regional stability.
In a statement on social media, Kılıçdaroğlu said Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel had “sent a message to Türkiye” amounted to an “open provocation” against the sovereignty of the Republic of Türkiye.
“No state, especially Israel, can use language suggesting that it can ‘bring Türkiye into line’ or ‘teach it a lesson,’” Kılıçdaroğlu said, describing such rhetoric as unacceptable toward a sovereign state.
He argued that the Israeli strike and Netanyahu’s remarks risk disrupting the fragile balance in Syria, escalating tensions and further destabilizing the region.
Kılıçdaroğlu said Türkiye’s national interests and regional stability required a determined but measured response, stressing that Ankara should maintain its position based on sovereignty and international law.
“Israel’s reckless attitude is a threat not only to Türkiye but to the entire region,” he stressed.
Kılıçdaroğlu also warned that continued Israeli military actions could push the wider region toward deeper conflict and instability.
The strikes by Israeli warplanes targeted Tuesday the disused Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base, located in northeastern Syria’s Idlib. According to Syrian officials, Israeli aircraft launched eight separate strikes on the facility, damaging its runway and striking a derelict structure inside a hangar.
The death toll in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has climbed to 73,417, with another 10 Palestinians killed and 25 others wounded over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said Thursday.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Egyptian and Saudi counterparts to coordinate regional diplomacy, focusing on obstacles to implementing the Gaza peace plan, developments in Syria and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Fidan spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud as part of Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic contacts over recent developments in the region, he said Thursday in a post on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
The three countries discussed problems that have emerged in the implementation of the Gaza peace plan and possible steps they could take in response, according to Fidan.
The ministers also reviewed the latest developments in Syria and reaffirmed their strong support for efforts to establish lasting peace and stability in the country.
The talks additionally covered the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the latest stage of negotiations between the countries involved in the regional dispute.
Fidan said Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia would continue strengthening cooperation and coordination across all areas as three countries seeking peace and prosperity in the region.
Türkiye’s anti-disinformation body rejected claims that certain social groups have been systematically targeted in recent operations and denied reports suggesting new restrictions have been imposed on minority schools.
The Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM), under the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, said claims circulating on some social media platforms alleging that “certain social structures have been systematically and categorically targeted” in recent operations contained disinformation.
The center said judicial and administrative proceedings were not conducted on the basis of the name, nature or social affiliation of any group.
“All judicial and administrative processes are carried out by the competent authorities in accordance with relevant legislation, based on concrete incidents, unlawful acts and evidence obtained,” the DMM said.
It urged the public to rely on official statements and disregard what it described as deliberately circulated manipulative content.
Last week, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek noted recent investigations into organized crime groups target criminal acts rather than religious beliefs or communities.
“The fundamental criterion here is not the identity of any belief, religious structure or community, but criminal acts and structures connected to those acts,” Gürlek said in a social media statement. “Faith and religious values can in no way be turned into an instrument or shield for criminal activities.”
In a separate statement, the DMM also rejected reports suggesting that minority schools in Türkiye were being subjected to specific restrictions.
The center said posts circulating on some social media accounts and in media outlets that created the impression that minority schools were being “specifically targeted through various restrictions” contained disinformation and risked undermining social peace and cohesion.
No new measures beyond provisions already stipulated under relevant legislation have been introduced for minority schools, the DMM said.
It added that the schools continue their education and teaching activities.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesperson Ömer Çelik on Tuesday sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing his government of fueling instability and conflict across the region.
“The Netanyahu ‘genocide network’ means nothing but more chaos and massacres for the entire region,” Çelik stressed in a statement on social media.
Çelik said Netanyahu has increasingly targeted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as he faces mounting pressure in Israeli domestic politics, arguing that the attacks stem from Erdoğan’s vocal opposition to Israel’s actions in the region.
He said Erdoğan’s stance represents what he described as an “alliance of humanity” against Israeli policies and called for those responsible for violations to be held accountable under international law.
Çelik also linked Israel’s military actions in Gaza with its policies and operations elsewhere in the region, including the occupied West Bank, Iran, Lebanon and Syria, describing them as parts of the same agenda.
Referring to recent developments in Syria, Çelik accused Israel of targeting the country whenever the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa takes steps aimed at strengthening Syria’s territorial and political unity.
“The Netanyahu network’s latest targeting of Syria has once again shown that Israeli policies are the greatest enemy of the peace and stability of the peoples of the region,” Çelik said.
He urged the international community to respond collectively to Israel’s actions in Syria and elsewhere in the region.
“Standing against the Netanyahu network means defending the dignity of all humanity,” Çelik said.
Earlier Sunday, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement holding Israel responsible for obstructing efforts to establish peace in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel has continued its genocide in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 73,000 Palestinians and wounding more than 174,000, most of them women and children. The offensive has also caused widespread destruction, damaging about 90% of the territory’s infrastructure.
Since Monday, the Israeli army has also continued earthmoving operations and work to reopen an old dirt road north of Wadi al-Raqad from the direction of Mariya village, using a bulldozer accompanied by a tank and a pickup truck, SANA said.
Southern Syria has witnessed recurring Israeli incursions and attacks for months, including raids, searches and arrests.
Türkiye on Wednesday marked World Humanitarian Day by stressing the need to protect United Nations personnel and humanitarian workers and ensure the rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of aid to people in need, with officials drawing particular attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a statement marking Aug. 19, which was designated World Humanitarian Day by the U.N. General Assembly in 2008, the Foreign Ministry underscored the importance of safeguarding humanitarian personnel working in conflict zones.
The ministry said the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, at a time when a record number of humanitarian workers have been killed while carrying out their duties, demonstrates the critical importance of the principles represented by World Humanitarian Day, including the responsibility to save lives and protect civilians and aid workers.
“On the occasion of Aug. 19 World Humanitarian Day, we commemorate with gratitude U.N. personnel and humanitarian workers who lost their lives after being targeted while carrying out their duties,” the ministry noted.
Türkiye will continue working to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza and other parts of the world in line with its “people-centered foreign policy,” it added.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also marked the day, saying the international community was going through a period in which the “global conscience” was being severely tested.
Duran pointed to Gaza, where tens of thousands of people, many of them women and children, have been killed and access to basic necessities remains severely restricted, while humanitarian workers have also been targeted.
“Wherever they may be in the world, we will continue to stand with those facing oppression and extend a helping hand to those in need,” Duran said.
He also thanked humanitarian workers who put human life above all else and expressed hope for a world where humanitarian assistance is not obstructed, civilians are protected and justice is upheld.
Through its state and non-state organizations and institutions Türkiye has been a leading international donor of humanitarian assistance. Turkish assistance has been delivered to across five continents through operations coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The assistance, including providing food, shelter, medical supplies, financial assistance and search and rescue equipment to regions affected by wars and natural disasters, has reached to more than 85 countries and communities worldwide.
Among these operations, Gaza has been the largest recipient of Turkish international humanitarian assistance, where AFAD has coordinated the delivery of 109,332 tons of aid through 14 aircraft and 21 ships following Israeli attacks on the enclave.
In addition, AFAD dispatched 25 “Kindness Trains” carrying 11,739 tons of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan, alongside six cargo flights; in Sudan, six ships delivered 10,206 tons of aid and 30,000 tents, while Pakistan received 9,079 tons of humanitarian assistance. Additional shipments included 3,000 tons of aid to Somalia and 730 tons to Lebanon.
Nearly 15,000 humanitarian aid trucks have also crossed into Syria, making it one of Türkiye’s largest long-term relief operations.
More recent disaster response missions have included 30 tons of humanitarian aid sent to Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country in June. The shipment, transported aboard two military cargo aircraft, included 275 tents and 7 tons of medical supplies. Türkiye also supported Spain after severe flooding by sending 250 large-capacity waste containers and two street-cleaning vehicles to assist recovery efforts.
Alongside AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and other Turkish humanitarian organizations have expanded Türkiye’s global relief efforts. Kızılay said it reached 32.9 million people worldwide in 2025, including 11.2 million people abroad, delivering more than 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid and over 10 million hot meals in Gaza while continuing operations in Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Niger and Uganda.
During Ramadan 2026, Kızılay carried out humanitarian operations in 21 countries, providing iftar and sahur meals, food packages and emergency relief. In Gaza alone, it served 60,000 people daily through soup kitchens, while its 21st “Ship of Goodness” delivered aid to Egypt’s al-Arish Port for onward transport into the enclave. The organization also distributed assistance in Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria.
Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation announced Ramadan aid programs spanning 66 and 86 countries.
Kızılay also dispatched 48 tons of humanitarian aid to Iran in April after receiving a request from the Iranian Red Crescent. The four-truck convoy carried shelter materials, hygiene kits and trauma supplies for civilians affected by ongoing attacks, with the organization saying further assistance would continue in line with humanitarian needs.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to humanitarian aid worldwide, pledging to continue standing with people in need, particularly in Gaza, as more than 300 million people struggle without access to basic necessities.
Marking World Humanitarian Day in a post on X, Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue setting an example on an issue that transcends politics, drawing strength from its history and deeply rooted civilizational values.
He said Türkiye remains the world’s leading provider of humanitarian assistance relative to its national income.
Erdoğan pointed to the plight of more than 300 million people deprived of their most basic needs and struggling to survive under difficult conditions, saying the scale of suffering presents a reality that calls on the entire international community to shoulder responsibility.
He stressed that coming to the aid of the oppressed, orphans, vulnerable and needy, and standing by those who have no one else, is a responsibility rooted in Türkiye’s religious and humanitarian values.
Erdoğan pledged that Türkiye would continue extending its “hand of compassion” wherever people are in need.
He added that Türkiye would continue supporting those in need across many parts of the world, particularly in Gaza, while offering hope to people facing oppression and hardship.
Through its state and non-state organizations and institutions Türkiye has been a leading international donor of humanitarian assistance. Turkish assistance has been delivered to across five continents through operations coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The assistance, including providing food, shelter, medical supplies, financial assistance and search and rescue equipment to regions affected by wars and natural disasters, has reached to more than 85 countries and communities worldwide.
Among these operations, Gaza has been the largest recipient of Turkish international humanitarian assistance, where AFAD has coordinated the delivery of 109,332 tons of aid through 14 aircraft and 21 ships following Israeli attacks on the enclave.
In addition, AFAD dispatched 25 “Kindness Trains” carrying 11,739 tons of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan, alongside six cargo flights; in Sudan, six ships delivered 10,206 tons of aid and 30,000 tents, while Pakistan received 9,079 tons of humanitarian assistance. Additional shipments included 3,000 tons of aid to Somalia and 730 tons to Lebanon.
Nearly 15,000 humanitarian aid trucks have also crossed into Syria, making it one of Türkiye’s largest long-term relief operations.
More recent disaster response missions have included 30 tons of humanitarian aid sent to Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country in June. The shipment, transported aboard two military cargo aircraft, included 275 tents and 7 tons of medical supplies. Türkiye also supported Spain after severe flooding by sending 250 large-capacity waste containers and two street-cleaning vehicles to assist recovery efforts.
Alongside AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and other Turkish humanitarian organizations have expanded Türkiye’s global relief efforts. Kızılay said it reached 32.9 million people worldwide in 2025, including 11.2 million people abroad, delivering more than 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid and over 10 million hot meals in Gaza while continuing operations in Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Niger and Uganda.
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